My Love Debts Are Everywhere!

Arshley stepped into the palace with a look of curiosity and admiration.

She had known the palace was magnificent, but seeing its interior in person left a completely different impression—more vivid, more breathtaking.

"This is incredible... These paintings and statues must be thousands of years old," she murmured, her gaze sweeping across the walls adorned with ancient art and majestic sculptures.

The paintings depicted oceans, mountains, and several male figures—most likely former Demon Emperors.

The statues, on the other hand, included dragons, a beautiful woman holding a golden bowl, and various other equally striking forms.

Just by looking at them, Arshley could tell one thing: these artifacts were not only beautiful but also carried immense historical value—perhaps even priceless.

Guided by Lyra, Arshley continued walking, passing through several rooms before finally arriving at a grand, spacious hall.

At the far end, a circular staircase spiraled up to the second floor, while magnificent statues stood at each corner—regal and elegant at once.

Two large sofas, each able to seat four people, faced each other with a long table set between them.

But what caught Arshley's attention most wasn't the lavish interior—it was the white-haired woman sitting gracefully on the left sofa.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, with a flawless face that looked as if it had been sculpted by the hands of a goddess.

Her jawline was delicate, her nose aquiline and alluring, and her blood-red eyes radiated a cold serenity—a gaze that seemed to pierce the soul of anyone who dared to meet it.

Her figure was equally captivating: a full chest, a slender waist, and graceful, seductive curves.

Her beauty was in no way inferior to Liliana's. In fact, in terms of body shape, Liliana might have had a slight advantage.

At the same time, Liliana observed Arshley from head to toe, unable to hide her admiration for the woman's appearance.

"She's truly beautiful... and carries such charm," she praised inwardly.

Leon had mentioned Arshley's name several times before, sparking Liliana's curiosity about his childhood friend.

After exchanging letters and discussing many things, that curiosity only grew—and from then on, she had genuinely wanted to meet Arshley in person.

Now, seeing her up close, Liliana had to admit: Arshley was her equal—perhaps even on par with Athena.

"That smelly guy is way too lucky... How could he have a childhood friend this beautiful and still go around flirting back then?" She thought, slightly annoyed.

Just thinking about Leon made a wave of longing rise within her—but Liliana quickly pushed the feeling down.

She stood up and greeted Arshley with a kind smile.

"Welcome, Saint Arshley," she said politely.

Arshley approached and returned the warm smile.

"Thank you for the welcome, Demon Empress Liliana."

Lyra gave a small nod to Liliana before quietly turning away to prepare tea for the two of them.

"Please, have a seat, Saint Arshley," Liliana said with a gesture. "You must be tired after the long journey from the Holy Orthodoxy, right?"

Arshley took a seat on the sofa across from her and gave a small nod.

"Yes, the journey was quite long—it took several days," she replied, her tone weary.

Although the territories of mankind and the demon race bordered one another, the distance from the Holy Orthodoxy's capital to the inner palace was still considerable.

She had to pass through numerous cities in both territories, traveling for nearly five full days.

Of course, for safety reasons, Adam had arranged accommodations in several cities along the way, turning their journey into one that lasted more than a week.

"If you're feeling tired, you're welcome to rest first, Saint Arshley," Liliana offered, her voice laced with concern. "Lyra had a room prepared for you before your arrival."

"Thank you for the kind offer, Demon Empress Liliana," Arshley replied, shaking her head gently. "I'm a little tired, but it's manageable. After all, this is our first meeting—and there's much I'd like to talk to you about."

Hearing that, Liliana didn't insist further. Truth be told, she was also eager to speak with Arshley.

They had been exchanging letters for months. Although they had never met face-to-face, they had already grown fairly close.

Afterward, they began their conversation, starting with lighthearted topics—sharing news and asking about each other's well-being.

At first, the atmosphere was a bit awkward, which was only natural.

For seven thousand years, mankind and the demon race had been sworn enemies.

Since childhood, both sides had been indoctrinated to harbor hatred and distrust toward one another.

Given that history, it was no surprise that their first face-to-face meeting felt uneasy, despite the many letters they had exchanged.

But gradually, the tension began to fade. Their conversation started to flow more naturally—just like it did in their letters.

Eventually, they even set aside formalities and began addressing each other by name instead of using titles.

"By the way, Liliana," Arshley said, taking a sip of the tea Lyra had served earlier, "I'm really curious about the policy you've been implementing. While passing through and stopping in some of the border towns, I noticed how prosperous everything seemed. Trade looked lively too. How did you manage to make that happen?"

Liliana smiled, then crossed one leg over the other and leaned back casually on the sofa.

"I implemented what I call a cross-policy among the border towns," she replied calmly.

"Cross-policy?" Arshley raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.

"Yes," Liliana nodded before explaining. "The idea is to promote cooperation between cities based on their unique strengths. You might've noticed that each city has its own specialty. Take the city of Lumereth, for example—it's located right by the sea, so they specialize in fisheries and marine products. I directed them to trade most of their seafood with the city of Zarethia, which excels in agriculture."

"Conversely, Zarethia is also required to sell most of its agricultural produce to Lumereth. That way, each city can meet the other's needs without creating excessive surpluses that would drive prices down."

"Of course, this policy doesn't apply only to the border towns—it extends to the inner cities as well. The goal is to keep the economy balanced, with no city suffering from an extreme surplus or shortage."

As she listened, Arshley's eyes lit up with admiration.

"What a clever idea! How did you come up with something like that?" She asked, clearly impressed.

Liliana let out a soft chuckle, a gentle smile forming on her lips.

"To be honest, the idea wasn't entirely mine... it actually came from someone else," she said casually.

"Someone?" Arshley blinked, curiosity in her eyes.

"Yes. And I'm sure you know him," Liliana replied, her expression turning playfully teasing.

Arshley fell silent for a moment. But it didn't take long for her to understand who Liliana was referring to. A very familiar face immediately appeared in her mind.

The confusion in her eyes faded, replaced by a soft smile tugging at her lips.

"If it's him... well, I'm not surprised at all."